Bellway has appointed a new Group Construction Director to oversee building practices and quality across its 21 operating divisions.

James Griffin joins the company after 17 years with the NHBC (National House Building Council).

Originally from Stoke-on-Trent, James embarked on a bricklaying apprenticeship after leaving school in 1999 and worked as a bricklayer for seven years before joining the NHBC in 2006, working his way up from Building Inspector to Regional Director for the Eastern Region.

James will play a key role in the delivery of the company’s strategic priorities, including the move to the Future Homes Standard and the shift towards timber frame construction and low carbon technologies. James will also be responsible for ensuring build quality and consistency is maintained across the country as part of Bellway’s Customer First programme.

One of his main challenges will be preparing construction teams for the shift towards zero-carbon ready homes ahead of the introduction of the Future Homes Standard in 2025 – something Bellway is already working towards through its involvement in the Future Home @ Energy House project at the University of Salford.

James Griffin said: “I’m thrilled to embark on this new chapter with Bellway. As a national housebuilder, we are a key driver towards the move towards low carbon homes in the UK, and our ‘Better with Bellway’ sustainability strategy is key to achieving this. The Future Home Standard is a significant change for the industry and my role is to ensure this transition is implemented consistently across all of our divisions so we can deliver high quality, low-carbon homes.

“I will be working closely with our divisional construction teams and our partners to share the learnings from our Energy House 2.0 project at The University of Salford, and other Future Home Standard exemplar projects across our divisions, to ensure we deliver homes that not only meet or exceed new standards but also ensure our customers are supported with adopting the new technologies being introduced.

Another key challenge will be embracing the move towards more timber frame construction within the industry to ensure homes can be delivered more efficiently.

James added: “The transition to timber frame construction will require additional training throughout the industry. The setup and operation of sites differ from traditional builds, so having a full understanding of these principles is essential for its success.

“As an organisation, we already have a great depth of knowledge on timber frame construction, and we will tap into that experience to ensure everyone has the skills needed to succeed.”

For more information about Better with Bellway, the company’s long-term commitment to responsible and sustainable practices, visit https://sustainability.bellwayplc.co.uk/.